The Hemocytes of Heliothis Armigera: Ultrastructure, Functions, and Evolution in the Course of Larval Development.

Five types of hemocytes, prohemocytes, typical plasmatocytes, coagulocytes, spherule cells, and oenocytoides, have been defined in the last larval instar of Heliothis armigera on the basis of ultrastructural microscopy, smears, and optical phase‐contrast microscopy. Modifications in typical plasmatocytes and coagulocytes have been evidenced in the course of development in this instar, which suggests that these hemocytes are involved in physiological processes of development. Only coagulocytes exhibit endocytotic capacities. Phenoloxidase activity was observed in oenocytoides.